[rydenfan]

It is odd that parts connexion seems to sell the 6H30-EB's for more than the 6H30 DR's. 

[ted_b]

It is odd that parts connexion seems to sell the 6H30-EB's for more than the 6H30 DR's. 

The EB's are their cryo'd gold-level version, whatever that gets you.  The NOS DR's aren't cryo'd of course.

[rpf]

I've decided to try to convert to computer based audio (Dan, I'll talk to you about a Transporter as soon as I figure out how to set this system up ).

Don't know if they even fit (another larger hole to cut Dan  ) but has anyone tried a Mullard "High Wycombe" (early "50s) big bottle GZ37 in a Transporter? These are a substantial improvement over the regular GZ37s although costly and getting more so ($200 and up) as they get rarer (only Tube World and KR Audio have them as far as I know). I like it best in the Modwright Sony 9100 although I prefer the GZ32 in the Modwright 36.5 (I've tried a bunch, though not all, 5U4G/GB, 5V4, 5AR4 variants in both pieces).

[mikel51]

Mike, what is the associated gear you are using with your Transporter?

BAT VK31SE preamp, BAT VK75SE power amp, Von Schweikert VR4JR speakers.  Acoustic Zen interconnects and speaker wires.  PS Audio Power Plant Premier power conditioning.

[modwright]

Hi Rob, no problem on the larger rectifier for the Transporter as only the base and narrow part of the tube needs to fit through the cover.  We did this on purpose.

It REALLY is fantastic unit.  As you can see, everyone loves it and we are turning heads and making great music with one here in Munich right now today.

Thanks and take care,

Dan W.

[rydenfan]

I prefer the GZ32 in the Modwright 36.5 (I've tried a bunch, though not all, 5U4G/GB, 5V4, 5AR4 variants in both pieces).

hhhmmm, very interesting. I have been planning to put my Mullard 5AR4 into the 36.5 and put my Mullard GZ32 (as soon as it arrives) into the TP, I wonder if perhaps I should reverse it? Any thoughts?

[rpf]

I prefer the GZ32 in the Modwright 36.5 (I've tried a bunch, though not all, 5U4G/GB, 5V4, 5AR4 variants in both pieces).

hhhmmm, very interesting. I have been planning to put my Mullard 5AR4 into the 36.5 and put my Mullard GZ32 (as soon as it arrives) into the TP, I wonder if perhaps I should reverse it? Any thoughts?

Yes, try everything, everywhere  - tube rolling keeps one out of really serious trouble. 

[rydenfan]

I prefer the GZ32 in the Modwright 36.5 (I've tried a bunch, though not all, 5U4G/GB, 5V4, 5AR4 variants in both pieces).

hhhmmm, very interesting. I have been planning to put my Mullard 5AR4 into the 36.5 and put my Mullard GZ32 (as soon as it arrives) into the TP, I wonder if perhaps I should reverse it? Any thoughts?

Yes, try everything, everywhere  - tube rolling keeps one out of really serious trouble. 

rpf, have you considered trying out Dan's TP against your Modwright disc player?

[rpf]

Yes. I like the convenience and versatility of the Transporter and if Dan says it's better (which he does) then it definitely is. I have bought several modded CDPs awa the two Modwright linestages from Dan: he is very conservative in describing improvements.

I've hesitated up until now to switch to computer based audio as I have over three thousand CDs and I'm leery of the reliability of hard drives (I'd hoped a more reliable solid state memory device would be out by now). But I'm running out of room to store my silver discs and will be moving this year so it seems to be the time to make the change. I'm not particularly computer savvy so it'll take me a while to get a system set up.

[Philistine]

I've just ordered my LessLoss PC
The intro deal expires at the end of April, so now's the time to move if you're interested.

Tube rolling
I've found that the best way for me is to leave the different combo's in for a few weeks and see how they fare.  In the past I've tube rolled and heard a difference with new tubes which sounds 'better' but longer listening reveals that I was reacting to a diiference in tonal quality rather than an improvement that I could live with.
Interested to hear your feedback on the 6H30's in the TP David.   

The LessLoss PC is certainly a good call at the special pricing. Will you be placing it on your TP? If so, what do you currently have on it?

I will not have the 6H30 DR's till the very end of this week at the absolute earliest, and possibly not till the beginning of the week after so just give me a little time. These are very rare and the guy who sold them to me would prefer to keep them than sell them. I can squeeze another 2 or 3 pairs out of him so I like them and someone else want them. They are not cheap though, $250 for the pair.

David, any update on your 6H30's?

[rydenfan]

David, any update on your 6H30's?

funny, you should ask  They arrived last night and Ted and I discussed them briefly today. Here was what I said to him

"I cheated a little last night and listened to the 6H30 DR's. I only listened for a few minutes as they had only been powered up for about 2 hours, but so far I like them. Very similar to the detail and clarity I have with the 6CG7's but a way more holographic and 3 dimensional sound, it was almost a little trippy (for lack of a better term). I will listen more tomorrow or Thursday."

I will say that the RCA Cleartops 6CG7's are a very, very good tube. at $48 for the pair they have been far and away may favorite thus far. What I heard last night mimicked all of the qualities of them but also added that extra dimension. I believe the 6H30 DR's are going to be a special tube, but I really want to wait till they have some more time on them to make any real decisions.

My guess right now is that the 6H30 DR's will go into my 36.5 and the 6CG7's will go into the TP, but it is still possible I may need another pair of the DR's so they can run in both the TP and 36.5 

[Double Ugly]

I believe the 6H30 DR's are going to be a special tube, but I really want to wait till they have some more time on them to make any real decisions.

That's good to know, because I ordered a cryoed pair from Brendon @ Tube World last Friday, the day my Transporter arrived.  I'll burn the caps in for a couple of weeks before I begin rolling, but they and the GZ32 also ordered took a nice chunk out of my wallet.  I'd hate to learn they were anything less than "trippy." 

I think I'll also appreciate the 6H30's reported lower gain.  I'm running sans preamp, and the stock tubes provide a wee bit more than I'd prefer.

[rydenfan]

I know feel confident in saying the 6H30 DR's best my previous favorite RCA Cleartop 6CG7's. As detailed and clear as the 6CG7's sounded to me, placing them back into my system after having the 6H30 DR's things quickly sounded muddy and congested. Actually, a little surprising to me how drastic the change was. For instance, I feel I can actually hear the location of each drum in the drummer's kit, that is how good the sense of detail and realness is.

So, on to the next step  I am going to place the 6H30 DR's into the 36.5 along with my Mullard 5AR4. From there I will compare a Mullard GZ32 against a Tung Sol 5U4GB in the TP. After I complete that whole process I figure I will A/B the RCA Cleartop 6CG7's against the stock 6H30's from my 36.5 to try and decipher if I need a second pair of the DR's for my TP? I would love some others opinions...

[ted_b]

I've been on a used and low-priced NOS tube buying spree lately.  All around the 6CG7 signal tube for the TP.  I've settled on the Mullard 5U4G as the rectifier so far (although the Philips GX32 keeps getting its turn at bat).  I've bought, for the signal side:
RCA Clear tops
Raytheon black plates (Made in USA ones, rather rare but inexpensive)
RCA black plates for the late 50's and early 60's
Sylvania gray plates from 1957-58, with green lettering
Sylvania gray plates, from early 60's, with yellow lettering

Up until this latest push I've been most pleased with the RCA 6BQ7's and to a lesser extent the Sovtek 6N1P's.  When I put the RCA Clear Tops in they sounded very bright, as NOS tubes sitting on a shelf for 40 yrs would sound.  After a few days they settled into very fine sounding tubes, the bes...so far.  But then, after reading about some folks liking the cheap USA-made Raytheon black plates I scored a pair for like $15, along with Emersons and the RCA black plates for similar pin money.  The past two days have had the Raytheons warming up, and they are now the benchmark.  The soundstage is deeper, the midranges sweeter, the highs a notch less tizzy than even before.  If David/Frank's feedback on the DR's are that good, I at least know I've got a few back ups for almost no money.  And some folks think the RCA black plates will do almost the same as the Raytheons, with the 1958 Sylvania green labels either a masterpiece  (and find of the year) or ho-hum.  Once Bob and gang leave this weekend the Sylvanias may go in the hotseats.  (Problem is: Bob's latest tweeter upgrade to the Revs is an infinitesimally low rated resistor across the tweeter, solving a tweeter control issue, so my cymbals and ultra HF sonics might need to be re-evaluated with the whole cadre of tubes after this weekend.  And his ZR cables will change the landscape, too.  Yikes.

Oh well, that's what this hobby is all about.  I can;t wait to hear how the DR's sound on the pre.  I'm having Brendan send me a couple of other low cost web faves, a pair of Sylvania 5R4GYB recitifers to try in my dual mono 36.5 PS.  I could end upo finding that some of these "finds" are just not right for my system, but I'll be out pennies....then again if the DR's are da bomb, those pennies will need to be carried in a very large sack! 

[rydenfan]

OK guys, I need to pick my jaw up off the floor a little bit 

The last few weeks I have been totally consumed with doing all of my tube rolling in the Transporter, all the while keeping the stock 5AR4 and the 6H30's in my 36.5. After feeling very comfortable with how things sound, last night I replaced those stock tubes in the 36.5 with the Mullard 5AR4 and the 6H30 DR's that I had been evaluating in the TP. I placed a Mullard GZ32 and the RAC Cleartop 6CG7's in the TP so that I would know the difference in sound, if I heard any, was coming from the 36.5. OMG!! The 36.5 definitely responded well to the tube upgrade. The sound immediatly become more robust, very full with a whole new sense of authority and attack, the detail and imaging improved, as well as a pretty significant upgrade in bass depth and control. While I sat on my couch with a giant sh*t eatting grin on my face, I kind of laughed to myself that I had been so focused on evaluating tubes in the TP that I had not given the same attention to the 36.5. On top of that, the GZ32 I placed into the TP is brand new so I am confident I will see even more improvement tonight.

I know this post is not super relivent to the TP but I think there are some others who may enjoy and benefit from this post. As good as the Mullard 5AR4 & 6H30 DR's sounded in the TP, my opinion is that anyone with a 36.5 really NEEDS to hear these tubes.

[mikel51]

I just inserted my new (actually old) Mazda 6CG7 tubes from Upscale Audio.  These sound very beautiful in combination with the Mullard 5U4G.  Initial impressions are that there is a more liquid midrange and a more ethereal quality than I remember the 6H30-DRs sounding last night.  Also a bit livelier sound.  Since these are brand new, and since I am about to depart for the weekend, I will let them play and break in for a few days and then I will come home and try to do an apples-apples comparison to the 6H30.

But the bottom line is that the Modwright Transporter is a fabulous digital source. 

[rydenfan]

I am curious if anyone has done any experimenting with file types and how they sound? I convert everything to FLAC for my ripping and play the signal as FLAC. I know you can also have the TP convert the FLAC to WAV. I am wondering if any of you guys have played around with this and heard any differences?

[Philistine]

I know feel confident in saying the 6H30 DR's best my previous favorite RCA Cleartop 6CG7's. As detailed and clear as the 6CG7's sounded to me, placing them back into my system after having the 6H30 DR's things quickly sounded muddy and congested. Actually, a little surprising to me how drastic the change was. For instance, I feel I can actually hear the location of each drum in the drummer's kit, that is how good the sense of detail and realness is.

So, on to the next step  I am going to place the 6H30 DR's into the 36.5 along with my Mullard 5AR4. From there I will compare a Mullard GZ32 against a Tung Sol 5U4GB in the TP. After I complete that whole process I figure I will A/B the RCA Cleartop 6CG7's against the stock 6H30's from my 36.5 to try and decipher if I need a second pair of the DR's for my TP? I would love some others opinions...

David, I'm still nervous about blowing $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ on the 6H30 DR's - some say the latest 6H30's are pretty close to them, depends on the usage/equipment.  I originally blew away my new 6H30's as being to harsh and grainy, but let them run 3 days non-stop again.  They sound smoother now and I like their 3 dimensional holographic soundstage.  They clearly have a lower gain than other signal tubes I've tried and they are do sound bass light (or maybe they're less muddled/woolly).  My 6N1P's sound inferior, in terms of a more 2 dimensional sound and less articulation of individual instruments.  I'm still waiting for a volunteer to compare the 6H30 DR's against the latest (last few years not early 2000's) version.     

[ted_b]

I've ordered DR's from Parts Connexion, and have a couple sets of the latest standard 6H30's from Dan, so I'll be able to compare too.

[Philistine]

I've been able to download the latest Nine Inch Nails album - The Slip, both in FLAC and 96/24 WAVE.
Took me about 8 hours to download the WAVE file, haven't had time to listen to it yet but the TP DAC recognizes and plays the file correctly.  I see future access to High Rez media to be one of the strengths that the TP has, it will be interesting to compare the FLAC and  96/24 files. 

http://www.nin.com